Journal Post #11

Focus Question: How can teachers and students use digital portfolios as tools for learning?

The definition of a digital portfolio according to Transforming Learning With New Technologies is a collection of educational and professional materials stored in an electronic format. Teachers and students can use digital portfolios in multiple ways. Teachers can use it as a way to store different project ideas so they can reuse it in the future. They can also use it as a way to build a resume for future teaching jobs and opportunities, and they can use it as a way to help their students record their progress and in the process increase their technology skills. Students can use it in order to display their work with their peers throughout the world and reach a wider audience.

Photo Credit: Wesley Fryer


Tech Tool Link: iLife

iLife is a software designed by and for apple that is used to store photos, but you can also edit those photos and use texts. This is a great tool to use to create a digital portfolio for students, especially photography. This is great because you can design it and make videos and make a very interactive portfolio.

As a future educator I think that digital portfolios are a great idea and would definitely incorporate it in my class. It is great to save students' work and a way to come them wanting to do more and be creative. it also helps in assessing their work and makes it easy for my teaching to be assessed by looking at my student's work. Just as Chapter 11 of Transforming Learning With New Technologies mentions.





Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Journal Post #10

Focus Question: How does technology promote learning success for young writers?

Many children and teens struggle when it comes to writing. Either they just really dislike it, or that is not their strong suit. Nevertheless, there are those students who truly enjoy writhing, but are not given the opportunity to let this particular interest grow. With all of the technology is that is available these days it is so much easier to make kids interested in writing, to help specific needs and difficulties, and to give students all of the tools so they can use their creativity.

Technology promotes learning success because it gives the students an audience. Their audience can be their classrooms, friends and family in another state, or even a complete stranger from the other side of the world. This kind of power grabs the kids' attention and motivates them to do their best and show their true potential. It is also easier for teachers to help their students with corrections or any other questions they might need. There are multiple programs and apps available such as GrammerAPP HD and Spell Check. There are also many programs that help students create a visual to go along with their writing. Some of these programs are Toontastic or Animation Creator HD. The best part in my opinion is that with all of these helpful tools it makes students proud to share their work. They also will be able to save it and be able to look back years later and see the progress they have made.


Photo Credit: Karen McMillan


Tech Tool: Interactive Whiteboards

An Interactive Whiteboard is like a touch screen whiteboard. Teachers are able to multi-task. For example, they are able to go to a website show it to the class on the overhead projector, and make notes as she teaches. This is an amazing tool that is interesting enough to keep kids engaged and helpful for the teacher to be able to do all of these things at once. I would use this in my classroom  to work on grammar, math, or any other subject. I believe it is also super cool because you can have the kids come up to the board and make notes as well and solve problems. It is also an amazing tool to help kids develop, grow, and keep them interested in writing.


Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Journal Post #9

Focus Question: How can teachers create PowerPoint presentations for maximum teaching potential and learning impact?

PowerPoint is a multimedia presentation software that is very popular and used by teachers and students of every grade level. The best way that teachers can use PowerPoint to its fullest potential and make it a great learning tool is to incorporate other tools. Some great ones that are mentioned in Transforming Learning with New Technology, are digital projectors and a document camera. These are great because it is a way to multitask and be able to show the students multiple visuals at once. 

Tech Tool Link :

YouTube for Schools is a channel for school appropriate videos which are very educational. 

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

I would definitely use YouTube for schools in my classroom because kids love videos. I remember when I was in school and no matter what grade it was when the teacher said, "Today we're watching a video." everyone would be so excited. It is super important thought to find captivating videos to keep the kids interested, but that is not a problem because there are so many videos available.

I would incorporate YouTube into my PowerPoint presentations. That is a way to use PowerPoint and these learning tools to their maximum potential. I would also have my students depending on the age and grade to use PowerPoint as projects. It can be used for individual and group work and it is amazing because PowerPoint can be used for any subject or content that is being taught.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Journal Post #8

Focus Question: How can teachers use email or text messaging to foster information exchanges with and among students?

Email and text messaging is a great way and quick way for information exchanging with friends, family, coworkers, even  students and teachers. Using text messaging and emails to as a learning tool in my opinion can be good, but of course has its negative points. Email is a great way for students and teachers to communicate. It is a safe environment where students can feel comfortable asking questions instead of asking in front of their peers.It is an less formal way to communicate with a teacher. It is also good because teachers can keep records of the conversations. Text messaging is wonderful with students. It can help the students build relationships and always keep in touch and according to Transforming Learning with New Technologies it is a good way to teach and practice spelling.


Photo Credit: Wikipedia

In my classroom I would definitely use email to communicate with my students, but I don't think I would use text messaging at all. Text messaging could be a great tool, however it is too difficult to make sure that students are actually using it for the right things in the classroom. If there was a way to monitor the way the students are using it I would consider it. I do believe students exchanging phone numbers is great to communicate with each other in order to build relationships with classmates and for them to ask for missed materials, etc.

Tech Tool Link: Skype

Skype is a great tool for communications, but I don't believe it is the best for younger students to use alone. I think it would be a cool way to use as a classroom together to teach about other cultures and use it to communicate with students and teachers from other cities, states, or countries. That is how I would use it in my classroom.

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Journal Post #7

Focus Question: What are the standard and open-source software applications available on most computers?

Open-source software is a type of software that is open for the public not only to use, but also to copy and recreate. They have proven to be very dependable. The creators of this kind of software create it with the intention that other developers come up with new innovative ideas, which can create a ripple effect and make others want to keep bettering the software. According to Transforming Learning with New Technologies any computer user can find open-source alternatives for all of the big and commonly used commercial software apps.


Tech Tool Link: Squeak Etoys

Squeak Etoys is an open-source website where kids can practice problem solving and it is a program that supports inquiry learning. It is an easy accessible site and it is FREE! It is a wonderful website that every teacher should know about. It offers games and activities that are appropriate for ages k-12. As a future elementary school teacher I will definitely use this site because it is a wonderful way to keep the little kids interested and excited to practice.


Photo Credit to Lucelia Ribeiro

Summery: This chapter went into depth about open-source software, apps, and programs that support problem solving and inquiry based leaning. It also talked about how there are even video games these days that help children practice their problem solving.

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Journal Post #6

Focus Question: How can educational websites provide interactive and engaging learning experiences for students?

Educational websites are internet based that are designed for student's learning needs and goals. It is a wonderful tool to keep students engaged and interested. These websites are very reliable and great for teachers because they are maintained by individuals with the credentials and authority to write about it. These websites provide everything from ideas for lessons for teachers, a place for students to be able to communicate with professionals and college students and be able to get their expertise or their opinion. There are also websites that allow students to take a virtual field trip and explore, as well as provide practice activities so they can practice the material they have been learning. I believe its a great way to keep kids engaged because the students of today are all about technology. What better way to get their attention than letting them explore the web.


Photo cred: Heather

Tech Tool: Website for the Science Museum of Minnesota

This website is a wonderful website that students can access at any time. The website provides activities that students can do online that are very age appropriate and you can see that the website is specifically designed for them.

This chapter is about students using websites and apps that can keep students engaged and interacted in the lessons. It provides multiple examples. In my classroom I will definitely use websites and apps because students of the upcoming generations will be more and more reliant on technology and it is a wonderful way to keep their attention.

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Journal Post #5

Focus Question: What are search engines and how do they work?

"A search engine is a software program that uses networks of computers to access information from its database." (Transforming Learning With New Technologies) Basically, what it does is search through multiple websites, articles, journals, etc. that are available online based on key words that you type in to search. Using search engines is becoming more popular and more essential to find information. "Over 90% of online adults use search engines to locate information." (Purcell, Brenner,& Rainie, 2012) I believe it is even more commonly used among teenagers and the younger generation. I always find myself on a daily basis "googling" something when I don't have the answer.


Photo credit to Jason Krajniak


The Tech Tool Link I chose was Flickr . Flickr is a great website that is easily accessible to anyone. It is an easy way to find photos about anything you can think of. The website is easy to navigate and very eye catching. Flickr is also becoming a very popular exercise. I would love to use it as a tool in my future classroom.

Summary: Chapter 5 was about navigating through the web and teaching students how to correctly do it. It is very important to teach students how to safely navigate and learn how to properly use search engines. These days it is too easy to find all kinds including bad information. As a future educator I definitely will do my best to educate my students how to properly use the internet.

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN:10 0-13-159611-X, ISBN:13 978-0-13-159611-5